@NEW

@NEW [VDS6]
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Syntax:

@NEW(FILE, <filename>, READ|WRITE|CREATE|APPEND)

@NEW(LIST {, SORTED})

@NEW(XMLDOC)

Description:

This function creates or opens an existing file, or creates a new string list or XML document, and returns an identifier that can be used to access it in subsequent commands and functions.

When used to create or open a file, the required filename must be specified, together with the mode of access. The access mode may be:

READ	File is opened with shareable read access. The file must exist.
WRITE	File is opened with read / write access. A new file will be created if it does not exist.
CREATE	A new file is created with write access. If a file of the same name exists, it is overwritten.
APPEND	File is opened with write access, and the pointer is positioned at the end of the file ready for appending. If the file does not exist, it will be created.

When used to create a new string list, you may optionally specify whether the data is to be maintained sorted. (You may sort an unsorted list at any time using the LIST SORT command.)

String list and XML document types are only created in memory, so the appropriate LOADFILE subcommand must be used if it is required to load a file from disk at the outset.

OK:

For @NEW(FILE, ...) may be set to false if the function fails (for example, a file does not exist or cannot be created, or the requested access cannot be granted.)

Example:

%%myfile = @NEW(FILE,C:\DATA\MYFILE.DAT,WRITE)

%%mylist = @NEW(LIST)